Good morning/evening everyone, we have a big weekend of racing ahead of us with the Hennessy and Fighting Fifth being staged, with a big day of racing in Ireland on Sunday to add. We come into today off the back of a profitable blog last week with a non runner and two winners through On Tour and Amberjam. It is a bit of an ask to carry that kind of form forward to this weekend, but nonetheless we shall try.
As always, @OnTheOtherHoof have prepared a video preview for this weeks racing as we discuss all of the day's racing on Channel 4. Joining me on the panel this week are @Calummadell and @Adamwebb121 who will be racemaking on course tomorrow. Enjoy!
Hennessy Gold Cup Day Preview
Now onto the all important selections
12:50 Newbury - Royal Regatta
If you tuned into our jumps preview video for OnTheOtherHoof then you would have seen that we were all keen on Royal Regatta over the bigger obstacles. Saying that, it was no surprise to see him make his reappearance over hurdles on what looks a workable mark. He ran well that day but shaped as if he would come on for the run behind two classy sorts in Brother Brian and Utopie Des Bordes, but today marks his chasing debut.
Philip Hobbs has had his string in good form recently and may have found a nice opening for Royal Regatta to make a successful start to his chasing career. In doing that he will have to beat some more experienced rivals, although some of them don't have the same potential off current handicap marks as he does. He has always seemed a horse who will relish the transition to fences but struggled over hurdles when raised in class after winning on his first two attempts. The softer ground shouldn't be an issue has he has already won on ground with ease in it and also stays further than two miles. Royal Regatta to get our day off to a flying start. (9/2)
3:00 Newbury - Via Sundown
Now this one I admit is more of a left field selection and not one that I will necessarily win, but should outrun his odds. He was one that I put up on my horses to follow list at the start of the year and while this wasn't the obvious starting point over fences, he has plenty in his favour.
Last season Via Sundown was a multiple winner over three miles on bottomless ground, albeit in poor races but he won them in good style. Arguably his best performance as a novice came at Fontwell well beating the strong stayers of Benvolio and Lamb Or Cod on bottomless ground, those two are no world beaters but they are more than useful yardsticks. His worst performance of last season came when tailed off behind Corrin Wood and Black Thunder at Warwick, however he wasn't right that day and the effort can be forgotten. Josh Moore takes the ride as he usually does which is no concern at all, even with Jamie riding Vino Griego against the pair. Whereas he may not have the most appealing profile for win purposes there are solid each way claims to be made with conditions in his favour. (40/1)
3:35 Newbury - Next Sensation
Next Sensation unseated his rider in this race last season when a well backed favourite off a ten pound lower mark. He corrected that in no uncertain fashion when beating God's Own at Doncaster, that came before a monstrous effort in the Grand Annual. He practically made all that day and would have provided one of the performances of the Festival if he wasn't caught in the final 50 yards. It has all gone wrong for him since that day however, his run at Aintree was easily forgiven as he was clearly over the top by that point and needed a break.
His comeback run at Ascot left something to be desired however as he failed to dominate the race and was quickly beaten as a result. Once again at Cheltenham he was taken on for the lead and folded tamely at the top of the hill which isn't his true showing at all. Today seems to be a last chance saloon scenario for him with no other confirmed pace in the race and a much smaller field to beat. Despite running poorly at Cheltenham he showed that the fire still burns after jumping and travelling well for a long way. The major negative against his chances tomorrow could come in the form of the softer ground, although he has won on it before off a much lower mark. (14/1)
NAP - Royal Regatta
Nb - Via Sundown (e/w)
Good luck tomorrow and as always, happy punting
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